Call Duck Eggs

[Chloe374]

Hi I do have pictures but for some reason I can not get them to upload to my computer. I'm just sorta sick over all of this, I feel like my alack of knowledge may have killed them. I just do not understand things looked great going into lockdown then nothing.

 

[Chloe374]

I was able to upload this one. Ohhh it was so sad.

 

[Chloe374]

It’s so sad when they don’t make it. I have three call duck x black east indies eggs due to hatch in about another two weeks or so, hoping it goes well.

Oh your babies are beautiful. I am sorry to hear about the little yellow one. It sure is heartbreaking. The picture I am attaching is day 33-34 this little one was peeping but then died. Look at the yolk sac what would cause this

 

[lena_]

I'm so sorry about your duckling, so you're saying that at day 34 you had a duckling that hadn't hatched but was living when you opened the egg? I've never had duck eggs take that long and still be alive. I'd say just keep them in the incubator for as long as you need to, and hope for the best.
@Pyxis
@casportpony
@Miss Lydia

 

[Chloe374]

I'm so sorry about your duckling, so you're saying that at day 34 you had a duckling that hadn't hatched but was living when you opened the egg? I've never had duck eggs take that long and still be alive. I'd say just keep them in the incubator for as long as you need to, and hope for the best.
@Pyxis
@casportpony
@Miss Lydia

Yes actually all of the eggs were on day 31-32 I had 14/17 that were still showing movement at that time. I re-candled them about 6-8 hours later and all were motionless except one. I had a vet appointment today and took this egg. From looking into it, it seemed like it was trying to pip out, they also said because of the bruising on the shell the duckling was trying and probably stuck. We made an air hole and the beak came out. At this point this egg was incubated for 33-34 days. The vet suggested getting it all the way out of the shell do to the age of the egg, call duck, sadly there was that big yolk sac still attached but it looked deformed a bit. The poor thing was peeping and all. Sadly it did not live long only a few hours.

 

[Chloe374]

I am so sorry you are having this trouble with your eggs. I know how it feels. Last year, I had well over twenty call duck eggs under broody hens. Straight forward fact: call ducks are extremely challenging to hatch. It is not your fault at all I had multiple eggs just quit along the way, and by the time lock down came, I was left with one egg. I waited, candled, looked for a pip. Nothing. I believe it was around day thirty when I took action. The duckling was miraculously alive, but the entire hatching process had to be carefully completed by me. Becuase call ducks have such short bills, it is harder for them to pip. And this poor baby was exhausted from trying. For a while, I wasn’t sure it was going to make it, but after resting for a full forty-eight hours, things began to progress, and Willow is now a beautiful little call duck hen. Good luck!

What a beautiful ending. I was praying this last little one would make it. It was alive and peeping when we made the hole, but the yolk sac was still so big. I wish I knew what happened.

 

[lena_]

Yes actually all of the eggs were on day 31-32 I had 14/17 that were still showing movement at that time. I re-candled them about 6-8 hours later and all were motionless except one. I had a vet appointment today and took this egg. From looking into it, it seemed like it was trying to pip out, they also said because of the bruising on the shell the duckling was trying and probably stuck. We made an air hole and the beak came out. At this point this egg was incubated for 33-34 days. The vet suggested getting it all the way out of the shell do to the age of the egg, call duck, sadly there was that big yolk sac still attached but it looked deformed a bit. The poor thing was peeping and all. Sadly it did not live long only a few hours.

Oh I'm so sorry! That is so upsetting, do you have any hope for the remaining eggs? Even a glimpse of movement? Maybe you could order ducklings from a hatchery instead of incubating them? Duck eggs are hard to incubate, this is such an awful thing for you

 

[Chloe374]

Don't be so hard on yourself.

They have all died, only one was left that had movement the vet made an air hole and we decided due to the age of the eggs to assist all the way in the hatching. There was still a large yolk sac the little thing was peeping and opening its little bill. He/she only lived about 3 hours.

 

[Chloe374]

Oh I'm so sorry! That is so upsetting, do you have any hope for the remaining eggs? Even a glimpse of movement? Maybe you could order ducklings from a hatchery instead of incubating them? Duck eggs are hard to incubate, this is such an awful thing for you

Thank you for the kind words. Yes it really hit my heart hard. They were all formed. They all looked good going into lockdown. They just never pipped it was day 34 for that last egg that was still showing promise, but he also died. I am going to look into ordering ducklings, I do not think I could do this again. Thank you

 

[Chloe374]

They have all died, only one was left that had movement the vet made an air hole and we decided due to the age of the eggs to assist all the way in the hatching. There was still a large yolk sac the little thing was peeping and opening its little bill. He/she only lived about 3 hours.View attachment 1666012

Thank you, it just made it worse that they were formed and could not get out. I can't imagine, I just hope they did not suffer.